By John Umeh
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE – Internal), revealing a 60.26 percent pass rate in the all-important benchmark of five credits, including Mathematics and English Language. The results were announced on Wednesday by the Registrar of NECO, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, during a press briefing at the Council’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State.
According to him, a total of 1,358,339 candidates sat for the June/July SSCE, out of which 818,492 candidates passed with at least five credits including English and Mathematics. An even larger number, 1,144,496 candidates (84.26 percent), obtained five credits and above irrespective of the two core subjects.
“This year, 1,367,210 candidates registered for the examination — 685,514 males and 681,696 females — while 1,358,339 actually sat for the exams,” Prof. Wushishi said. “Our analysis shows encouraging performance compared to recent years, reflecting gradual improvements in teaching, learning, and examination management.”
Fewer Malpractice Cases, But Challenges Remain
One of the notable highlights of the 2025 results is the significant drop in cases of examination malpractice. NECO recorded 3,878 cases this year, compared to 10,094 cases in 2024, representing a 61.58 percent reduction.
The Registrar, however, lamented the persistence of mass cheating in some centres. According to him, 38 schools across 13 states were implicated in whole-school malpractice. He also disclosed that nine supervisors from Rivers, Niger, the FCT, Kano, and Osun States were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting malpractice, lateness, and misconduct.
“Although malpractice remains a challenge, we are determined to sustain the measures that have drastically reduced its prevalence. We want to assure Nigerians that NECO is committed to protecting the integrity of its examinations,” Wushishi noted.
He also highlighted a unique case in Lamorde Local Government Area of Adamawa State, where communal clashes disrupted examinations across eight schools. This led to the cancellation of 13 subjects and 29 papers between July 7 and 25, 2025. NECO, he said, is already working with the Adamawa State Government to reschedule the disrupted examinations.
Performance Across States and the Road Ahead
A breakdown of performance by states showed that Kano State led with 68,159 candidates (5.02 percent of total passes) securing five credits including English and Mathematics. Lagos State followed closely with 67,007 candidates (4.93 percent), while Oyo State came third with 48,742.
At the bottom of the performance table was Gabon Centre, where no candidate achieved the benchmark of five credits including English and Mathematics.
The Registrar also gave updates on NECO’s ongoing reforms, particularly the transition from the traditional Paper-Pencil Test (PPT) format to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) model. The new system has already been piloted in selected private and public schools, and NECO intends to scale it up gradually.
“In line with our revised curriculum, future SSCE exams will be streamlined to only 38 subjects. This change will help us reduce the waiting period for results and improve efficiency in grading and reporting,” Wushishi explained.
Special Needs and Inclusivity
Prof. Wushishi revealed that 1,622 candidates with special needs participated in the 2025 SSCE. These included candidates with hearing impairments (586 males and 355 females) and visual impairments (111 males and 80 females). He assured that NECO remains committed to inclusivity, ensuring that students with disabilities are given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities under fair conditions.
Conclusion
The release of the 2025 SSCE results provides a mixed picture — steady progress in student performance and a commendable reduction in malpractice, but also reminders of the challenges posed by security crises, supervision lapses, and mass cheating in some centres.
For many Nigerian students, however, the results represent a gateway to the next stage of their academic journey — admission into tertiary institutions, vocational training, or other career paths. With nearly two-thirds of candidates achieving the key benchmark of five credits, including English and Mathematics, the outcome of the 2025 SSCE may be seen as a step forward in Nigeria’s quest to strengthen its educational system.
